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Tenth Day
-
Novel VIII

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
001
]
Sophronia, albeit she deems herself wife to Gisippus, is
wife to Titus Zuintius Fulvus, and goes with him to
Rome, where Gisippus arrives in indigence, and deeming
himself scorned by Titus, to compass his own death,
avers that he has slain a man. Titus recognizes
him, and to save his life, alleges that 'twas he that
slew the man: whereof he that did the deed being
witness, he discovers himself as the murderer. Whereby
it comes to pass that they are all three liberated by
Octavianus; and Titus gives Gisippus his sister to
wife, and shares with him all his substance.

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
002
]
So ceased Pampinea; and when all the ladies, and most of all
the Ghibelline, had commended King Pedro, Filomena by command
of the king thus began:

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
003
]
Magnificent my ladies, who wots not
that there is nought so great but kings, when they have a mind, may
accomplish it? As also that 'tis of them that magnificence is most
especially demanded? Now whoso, being powerful, does that which
it appertains to him to do, does well; but therein is no such matter of
marvel, or occasion of extolling him to the skies, as in his deed, of
whom, for that his power is slight, less is demanded. [
004
]
Wherefore, as
you are so profuse of your words in exaltation of the fine deeds, as
you deem them, of monarchs, I make no manner of doubt, but that the
doings of our peers must seem to you yet more delectable and commendable,
when they equal or surpass those of kings. Accordingly
'tis a transaction, laudable and magnificent, that passed between two
citizens, who were friends, that I purpose to recount to you in my
story.

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
005
]
I say, then, that what time Octavianus Caesar, not as yet hight
Augustus, but being in the office called Triumvirate, swayed the
empire of Rome, there dwelt at Rome a gentleman, Publius Quintius
Fulvus by name, who, having a son, Titus Quintius Fulvus, that
was a very prodigy of wit, sent him to Athens to study philosophy,
and to the best of his power commended him to a nobleman of that
city, Chremes by name, who was his very old friend. [
006
]
Chremes
lodged Titus in his own house with his son Gisippus, and placed
both Titus and Gisippus under a philosopher named Aristippus, to
learn of him his doctrine. [
007
]
And the two youths, thus keeping
together, found each the other's conversation so congruous with his
own, that there grew up between them a friendship so close and
brotherly that 'twas never broken by aught but death; nor knew
either rest or solace save when he was with the other. [
008
]
So, gifted
alike with pre-eminent subtlety of wit, they entered on their studies,
and with even pace and prodigious applause scaled together the
glorious heights of philosophy. In which way of life, to the exceeding
great delight of Chremes, who entreated Titus as no less his son
than Gisippus, they continued for full three years. [
009
]
At the end
whereof, it befell (after the common course of things mundane) that
Chremes (being now aged) departed this life. Whom with equal
grief they mourned as a common father; and the friends and kinsfolk
of Chremes were alike at a loss to determine whether of the twain
stood in need of the more consolation upon the bereavement.

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
010
]
Some months afterward the friends and kinsfolk of Gisippus came
to him and exhorted him, as did also Titus, to take a wife, and found
him a maiden, wondrous fair, of one of the most noble houses of
Athens, her name Sophronia, and her age about fifteen years. [
011
]
So a
time was appointed for their nuptials, and one day, when 'twas near
at hand, Gisippus bade Titus come see the maiden, whom as yet he
had not seen; and they being come into her house, and she sitting
betwixt them, Titus, as he were fain to observe with care the several
charms of his friend's wife that was to be, surveyed her with the
closest attention, and being delighted beyond measure with all that
he saw, grew, as inly he extolled her charms to the skies, enamoured
of her with a love as ardent, albeit he gave no sign of it, as ever lover
bore to lady. However, after they had tarried a while with her,
they took their leave, and went home, [
012
]
where Titus repaired to his
chamber, and there gave himself over to solitary musing on the
damsel's charms, and the longer he brooded, the more he burned for
her. Whereon as he reflected, having heaved many a fervent sigh,
thus he began to commune with himself: [
013
]
Ah! woe worth thy
life, Titus! Whom makest thou the mistress of thy soul, thy
love, thy hope? Knowest thou not that by reason as well of thy
honourable entreatment by Chremes and his kin as of the whole-hearted
friendship that is between thee and Gisippus, it behoves thee
to have his betrothed in even such pious regard as if she were thy
sister? Whither art thou suffering beguiling love, delusive hope, to
hurry thee? [
014
]
Open the eyes of thine understanding, and see thyself,
wretched man, as thou art; obey the dictates of thy reason, refrain thy
carnal appetite, control thine inordinate desires, and give thy thoughts
another bent; join battle with thy lust at the outset, and conquer
thyself while there is yet time. [
015
]
This which thou wouldst have is
not meet, is not seemly: this which thou art minded to ensue, thou
wouldst rather, though thou wert, as thou art not, sure of its attainment,
eschew, hadst thou but the respect thou shouldst have, for the
claims of true friendship. So, then, Titus, what wilt thou do?
What but abandon this unseemly love, if thou wouldst do as it
behoves thee?

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
016
]
But then, as he remembered Sophronia, his thoughts took the
contrary direction, and he recanted all he had said, musing on this
wise: The laws of Love are of force above all others; they abrogate
not only the law of human friendship, but the law Divine
itself. How many times ere now has father loved daughter, brother
sister, step-mother step-son? aberrations far more notable than that a
friend should love his friend's wife, which has happened a thousand
times. [
017
]
Besides which, I am young, and youth is altogether subject
to the laws of Love. Love's pleasure, then, should be mine. The
seemly is for folk of riper years. 'Tis not in my power to will aught
save that which Love wills. [
018
]
So beauteous is this damsel that there
is none but should love her; and if I love her, who am young, who
can justly censure me? I love her not because she is the affianced
of Gisippus; no matter whose she was, I should love her all the
same. [
019
]
Herein is Fortune to blame, that gave her to my friend,
Gisippus, rather than to another. And if she is worthy of love, as
for beauty she is, Gisippus, if he should come to know that I love
her, ought to be less jealous than another.

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
020
]
Then, scorning himself that he should indulge such thoughts, he
relapsed into the opposing mood, albeit not to abide there, but ever
veering to and fro, he spent not only the whole of that day and the
ensuing night, but many others; insomuch that, being able neither
to eat nor to sleep, he grew so weak that he was fain to take to his
bed. [
021
]
Gisippus, who had marked his moodiness for some days, and
now saw that he was fairly sick, was much distressed; and with
sedulous care, never quitting his side, he tended, and strove as best
he might to comfort, him, not seldom and most earnestly demanding
to know of him the cause of his melancholy and his sickness. Many
were the subterfuges to which Titus resorted; but, as Gisippus was
not to be put off with his fables, finding himself hard pressed by him,
with sighs and sobs he made answer on this wise: [
022
]
“
Gisippus, had
such been the will of the Gods, I were fain rather to die than to
live, seeing that Fortune has brought me to a strait in which needs
must my virtue be put to the ordeal, and, to my most grievous
shame, 'tis found wanting: whereof I confidently expect my due
reward, to wit, death, which will be more welcome to me than to
live, haunted ever by the memory of my baseness, which, as there is
nought that from thee I either should or can conceal, I, not without
burning shame, will discover to thee.
”
[
023
]
And so he recounted the
whole story from first to last, the occasion of his melancholy, its
several moods, their conflict, and with which of them the victory
rested, averring that he was dying of love for Sophronia, and that,
knowing how ill such love beseemed him, he had, for penance, elected
to die, and deemed the end was now not far off. [
024
]
Gisippus, hearing
his words and seeing his tears, for a while knew not what to say,
being himself smitten with the damsel's charms, albeit in a less degree
than Titus; but ere long he made up his mind that Sophronia must
be less dear to him than his friend's life.

[Voice:
filomena
]

And so, moved to tears by his friend's tears: [
025
]
“
Titus,
”
quoth
he between his sobs,
“
but that thou art in need of comfort, I should
reproach thee, that thou hast offended against our friendship in that
thou hast so long kept close from me this most distressful passion;
and albeit thou didst deem it unseemly, yet unseemly things should
no more than things seemly be withheld from a friend, for that, as a
friend rejoices with his friend in things seemly, so he does his endeavour
to wean his friend from things unseemly: but enough of this
for the nonce: I pass to that which, I wot, is of greater moment. [
026
]
If
thou ardently lovest Sophronia, my affianced, so far from marvelling
thereat, I should greatly marvel were it not so, knowing how fair
she is, and how noble is thy soul, and thus the apter to be swayed by
passion, the more excelling is she by whom thou art charmed. [
027
]
And
the juster the cause thou hast to love Sophronia, the greater is the
injustice with which thou complainest of Fortune (albeit thou dost it
not in so many words) for giving her to me, as if thy love of her had
been seemly, had she belonged to any other but me; [
028
]
whereas, if thou
art still the wise man thou wast wont to be, thou must know that to
none could Fortune have assigned her, with such good cause for thee
to thank her, as to me. Had any other had her, albeit thy love had
been seemly, he had loved her as his own, rather than as thine;
which, if thou deem me even such a friend to thee as I am, thou wilt
not apprehend from me, seeing that I mind me not that, since we
were friends, I had ever aught that was not as much thine as mine.
[
029
]
And so should I entreat thee herein as in all other matters, were the
affair gone so far that nought else were possible; but as it is, I can
make thee sole possessor of her; and so I mean to do; for I know
not what cause thou shouldst have to prize my friendship, if, where
in seemly sort it might be done, I knew not how to surrender my
will to thine. [
030
]
'Tis true that Sophronia is my betrothed, and that I
loved her much, and had great cheer in expectation of the nuptials:
but as thou, being much more discerning than I, dost more fervently
affect this rare prize, rest assured that she will enter my chamber not
mine but thine. [
031
]
Wherefore, away with thy moodiness, banish thy
melancholy, recover thy lost health, thy heartiness and jollity, and
gladsomely, even from this very hour, anticipate the guerdon of thy
love, a love worthier far than mine.
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
032
]
Delightful as was the prospect with which hope flattered Titus,
as he heard Gisippus thus speak, no less was the shame with which
right reason affected him, admonishing him that the greater was the
liberality of Gisippus, the less it would become him to profit thereby.
Wherefore, still weeping, he thus constrained himself to make
answer: [
033
]
“
Gisippus, thy generous and true friendship leaves me in
no doubt as to the manner in which it becomes me to act. God forefend
that her, whom, as to the more worthy, He has given to thee, I
should ever accept of thee for mine. Had He seen fit that she should
be mine, far be it from thee or any other to suppose that He would
ever have awarded her to thee. [
034
]
Renounce not, then, that which thy
choice and wise counsel and His gift have made thine, and leave me,
to whom, as unworthy, He has appointed no such happiness, to
waste my life in tears; for either I shall conquer my grief, which
will be grateful to thee, or it will conquer me, and so I shall be quit
of my pain.
”
[
035
]
Quoth then Gisippus:
“
If our friendship, Titus, is
of such a sort as may entitle me to enforce thee to ensue behests of
mine, or as may induce thee of thine own free will to ensue the
same, such is the use to which, most of all, I am minded to put it;
and if thou lend not considerate ear unto my prayers, I shall by
force, that force which is lawful in the interest of a friend, make
Sophronia thine. [
036
]
I know the might of Love, how redoubtable it is,
and how, not once only, but oftentimes, it has brought ill-starred lovers
to a miserable death; and thee I see so hard bested that turn back
thou mightst not, nor get the better of thy grief, but holding on thy
course, must succumb, and perish; and without doubt I should
speedily follow thee. [
037
]
And so, had I no other cause to love thee, thy
life is precious to me in that my own is bound up with it. Sophronia,
then, shall be thine; for thou wouldst not lightly find another so
much to thy mind, and I shall readily find another to love, and so
shall content both thee and me. [
038
]
In which matter, peradventure, I
might not be so liberal, were wives so scarce or hard to find as are
friends; wherefore, as 'tis so easy a matter for me to find another
wife, I had liefer--I say not lose her, for in giving her to thee lose
her I shall not, but only transfer her to one that is my alter ego,
and
that to her advantage--I had liefer, I say, transfer her to thee than
lose thee. [
039
]
And so, if aught my prayers avail with thee, I entreat thee
extricate thyself from this thy woeful plight, and comfort at once
thyself and me, and in good hope, address thyself to pluck that boon
which thy fervent love craves of her for whom thou yearnest.
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
040
]
Still scrupling, for shame, to consent that Sophronia should become
his wife, Titus remained yet a while inexorable; but, yielding at
last to the solicitations of Love, reinforced by the exhortations of
Gisippus, thus he made answer:
“
Lo now, Gisippus, I know not
how to call it, whether 'tis more thy pleasure than mine, this which
I do, seeing that 'tis as thy pleasure that thou so earnestly entreatest
me to do it; but, as thy liberality is such that my shame, though
becoming, may not withstand it, I will even do it. [
041
]
But of this rest
assured, that I do so, witting well that I receive from thee, not only
the lady I love, but with her my very life. And, Fate permitting,
may the Gods grant me to make thee such honourable and goodly
requital as may shew thee how sensible I am of the boon, which
thou, more compassionate of me than I am of myself, conferrest on
me.
”
[
042
]
Quoth then Gisippus:
“
Now, for the giving effect to our
purpose, methinks, Titus, we should proceed on this wise. Thou
knowest that Sophronia, by treaty at length concluded between my
family and hers, is become my betrothed: were I now to say that
she should not be my wife, great indeed were the scandal that would
come thereof, and I should affront both her family and mine own;
[
043
]
whereof, indeed, I should make no account, so it gave me to see her
become thine; but I fear that, were I to give her up at this juncture,
her family would forthwith bestow her upon another, perchance,
than thee, and so we should both be losers. [
044
]
Wherefore
methinks that, so thou approve, I were best to complete what I have
begun, bring her home as my wife, and celebrate the nuptials, and
thereafter we can arrange that thou lie with her, privily, as thy wife.
[
045
]
Then, time and occasion serving, we will disclose the whole affair,
and if they are satisfied, well and good; if not, 'twill be done all the
same, and as it cannot be undone, they must perforce make the best
of it.
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
046
]
Which counsel being approved by Titus, Gisippus brought the
lady home as his wife, Titus being now recovered, and quite himself
again; and when they had made great cheer, and night was come,
the ladies, having bedded the bride, took their departure. [
047
]
Now the
chambers of Titus and Gisippus were contiguous, and one might
pass from one into the other: Gisippus, therefore, being come into
his room, extinguished every ray of light, and stole into that of
Titus, and bade him go get him to bed with his lady. [
048
]
Whereat Titus
gave way to shame, and would have changed his mind, and refused
to go in; but Gisippus, no less zealous at heart than in words to
serve his friend, after no small contention prevailed on him to go
thither. Now no sooner was Titus abed with the lady, than, taking
her in his arms, he, as if jestingly, asked in a low tone whether she
were minded to be his wife. [
049
]
She, taking him to be Gisippus,
answered, yes; whereupon he set a fair and costly ring on her
finger, saying:
“
And I am minded to be thy husband.
”
And
having presently consummated the marriage, he long and amorously
disported him with her, neither she, nor any other, being ever aware
that another than Gisippus lay with her.

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
050
]
Now Titus and Sophronia being after this sort wedded, Publius,
the father of Titus, departed this life. For which cause Titus was
bidden by letter to return forthwith to Rome to see to his affairs;
wherefore he took counsel with Gisippus how he might take
Sophronia thither with him; which might not well be done without
giving her to know how matters stood. [
051
]
Whereof, accordingly, one
day, having called her into the chamber, they fully apprised her,
Titus for her better assurance bringing to her recollection not a little
of what had passed between them. [
052
]
Whereat she, after glancing from
one to the other somewhat disdainfully, burst into a flood of tears,
and reproached Gisippus that he had so deluded her; and forthwith,
saying nought of the matter to any there, she hied her forth of
Gisippus' house and home to her father, to whom and her mother
she recounted the deceit which Gisippus had practised upon them as
upon her, averring that she was the wife not of Gisippus, as they
supposed, but of Titus. [
053
]
Whereby her father was aggrieved exceedingly,
and prolonged and grave complaint was made thereof by him
and his own and Gisippus' families, and there was not a little parleying,
and a world of pother. Gisippus earned the hatred of both his own and
Sophronia's kin, and all agreed that he merited not only censure but
severe punishment. He, however, averred that he had done a thing
seemly, and that Sophronia's kinsfolk owed him thanks for giving her
in marriage to one better than himself.

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
054
]
All which Titus witnessed with great suffering, and witting that
'twas the way of the Greeks to launch forth in high words and
menaces, and refrain not until they should meet with one that
answered them, whereupon they were wont to grow not only
humble but even abject, was at length minded that their clavers
should no longer pass unanswered; [
055
]
and, as with his Roman temper he
united Athenian subtlety, he cleverly contrived to bring the kinsfolk,
as well of Gisippus as of Sophronia, together in a temple,
where, being entered, attended only by Gisippus, thus (they being
intent to hear) he harangued them: [
056
]
“
'Tis the opinion of not a
few philosophers that whatsoever mortals do is ordained by the providence
of the immortal Gods; for which cause some would have it
that nought either is, or ever shall be, done, save of necessity, albeit
others there are that restrict this necessity to that which is already
done. [
057
]
Regard we but these opinions with some little attention, and
we shall very plainly perceive that to censure that which cannot be
undone is nought else but to be minded to shew oneself wiser than
the Gods; by whom we must suppose that we and our affairs are
swayed and governed with uniform and unerring wisdom. Whereby
you may very readily understand how vain and foolish a presumption
it is to pass judgment on their doings, and what manner and might
of chains they need who suffer themselves to be transported to such
excess of daring. [
058
]
Among whom, in my judgment, you must one
and all be numbered, if 'tis true, what I hear, to wit, that you have
complained and do continue to complain that Sophronia, albeit you
gave her to Gisippus, is, nevertheless, become my wife; not considering
that 'twas ordained from all eternity that she should become, not
the wife of Gisippus, but mine, as the fact does now declare.
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
059
]
“
But, for that discourse of the secret providence and purposes of
the Gods seems to many a matter hard and scarce to be understood,
I am willing to assume that they meddle in no wise with our concerns,
and to descend to the region of human counsels; in speaking
whereof I must needs do two things quite at variance with my wont,
to wit, in some degree praise myself and censure or vilify another.
[
060
]
But, as in either case I mean not to deviate from the truth, and 'tis
what the occasion demands, I shall not fail so to do. [
061
]
With bitter
upbraidings, animated rather by rage than by reason, you cease not
to murmur, nay, to cry out, against Gisippus, and to harass him with
your abuse, and hold him condemned, for that her, whom you saw
fit to give him, he has seen fit to give me, to wife; wherein I deem
him worthy of the highest commendation, and that for two reasons,
first, because he has done the office of a friend, and secondly, because
he has done more wisely than you did. [
062
]
After what sort the sacred
laws of friendship prescribe that friend shall entreat friend, 'tis not to
my present purpose to declare; 'twill suffice to remind you that the
tie of friendship should be more binding than that of blood, or
kinship; seeing that our friends are of our own choosing, whereas our
kinsfolk are appointed us by Fortune; [
063
]
wherefore, if my life was more
to Gisippus than your goodwill, since I am, as I hold myself, his
friend, can any wonder thereat?
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
064
]
“
But pass we to my second reason; in the exposition whereof I
must needs with yet more cogency prove to you that he has been
wiser than you, seeing that, methinks, you wot nought of the providence
of the Gods, and still less of the consequences of friendship. [
065
]
I
say then, that, as 'twas your premeditated and deliberate choice that
gave Sophronia to this young philosopher Gisippus, so 'twas his that
gave her to another young philosopher. 'Twas your counsel that
gave her to an Athenian; 'twas his that gave her to a Roman:
'twas your counsel that gave her to a man of gentle birth; 'twas his
that gave her to one of birth yet gentler: wealthy was he to whom
your counsel gave her, most wealthy he to whom his counsel gave
her. Not only did he to whom your counsel gave her, love her not,
but he scarce knew her, whereas 'twas to one that loved her beyond
all other blessings, nay, more dearly than his own life, that his
counsel gave her. [
066
]
And to the end that it may appear more plainly
that 'tis even as I say, and Gisippus' counsel more to be commended
than yours, let us examine it point by point. That I, like Gisippus,
am young and a philosopher, my countenance and my pursuits may,
without making more words about the matter, sufficiently attest.
We are also of the same age, and have ever kept pace together in
our studies. [
067
]
Now true it is that he is an Athenian, and I am a
Roman. But, as touching the comparative glory of the cities,
should the matter be mooted, I say that I am of a free city, and he
of a city tributary; that I am of a city that is mistress of all the
world, and he of one that is subject to mine; that I am of a city
that flourishes mightily in arms, in empire, and in arts; whereas he
cannot boast his city as famous save in arts.
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
068
]
“
Moreover, albeit you see me here in the guise of a most humble
scholar, I am not born of the dregs of the populace of Rome. My
halls and the public places of Rome are full of the antique effigies of
my forefathers, and the annals of Rome abound with the records of
triumphs led by the Quintii to the Roman Capitol; and so far from
age having withered it, to-day, yet more abundantly than ever of
yore, flourishes the glory of our name. [
069
]
Of my wealth I forbear, for
shame, to speak, being mindful that honest poverty is the time-honoured
and richest inheritance of the noble citizens of Rome;
but, allowing for the nonce the opinion of the vulgar, which holds
poverty in disrepute, and highly appraises wealth, I, albeit I never
sought it, yet, as the favoured of Fortune, have abundant store
thereof. [
070
]
Now well I wot that, Gisippus being of your own city,
you justly prized and prize an alliance with him; but not a whit
less should you prize an alliance with me at Rome, considering that
there you will have in me an excellent host, and a patron apt, zealous
and potent to serve you as well in matters of public interest as in
your private concerns. [
071
]
Who, then, dismissing all bias from his
mind, and judging with impartial reason, would deem your counsel
more commendable than that of Gisippus? Assuredly none.
Sophronia, then, being married to Titus Quintius Fulvus, a citizen
of Rome, of an ancient and illustrious house, and wealthy, and a
friend of Gisippus, whoso takes umbrage or offence thereat, does
that which it behoves him not to do, and knows not what he does.
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
072
]
“
Perchance some will say that their complaint is not that
Sophronia is the wife of Titus, but that she became his wife after
such a sort, to wit, privily, by theft, neither friend nor any of her
kin witting aught thereof; but herein is no matter of marvel, no
prodigy as yet unheard-of. [
073
]
I need not instance those who before
now have taken to them husbands in defiance of their fathers' will,
or have eloped with their lovers and been their mistresses before they
were their wives, or of whose marriages no word has been spoken,
until their pregnancy or parturition published them to the world,
and necessity sanctioned the fact: nought of this has happened in
the case of Sophronia; on the contrary, 'twas in proper form, and in
meet and seemly sort, that Gisippus gave her to Titus. [
074
]
And others,
peradventure, will say that 'twas by one to whom such office belonged
not that she was bestowed in marriage. Nay, but this is but
vain and womanish querulousness, and comes of scant consideration.
Know we not, then, that Fortune varies according to circumstances
her methods and her means of disposing events to their predetermined
ends? [
075
]
What matters it to me, if it be a cobbler, rather than
a philosopher, that Fortune has ordained to compass something for
me, whether privily or overtly, so only the result is as it should be?
I ought, indeed, to take order, if the cobbler be indiscreet, that he
meddle no more in affairs of mine, but, at the same time, I ought to
thank him for what he has done. [
076
]
If Gisippus has duly bestowed
Sophronia in marriage, it is gratuitous folly to find fault with the
manner and the person. If you mistrust his judgment, have a care
that it be not in his power to do the like again, but thank him
for this turn.
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
077
]
“
Natheless, you are to know that I used no cunning practice or
deceit to sully in any degree the fair fame of your house in the
person of Sophronia; [
078
]
and, albeit I took her privily to wife, I came
not as a ravisher to despoil her of her virginity, nor in any hostile
sort was I minded to make her mine on dishonourable terms, and
spurn your alliance; but, being fervently enamoured of her bewitching
beauty and her noble qualities, I wist well that, should I
make suit for her with those formalities which you, perchance, will
say were due, then, for the great love you bear her, and for fear lest I
should take her away with me to Rome, I might not hope to have
her. [
079
]
Accordingly I made use of the secret practice which is now
manifest to you, and brought Gisippus to consent in my interest to
that whereto he was averse; [
080
]
and thereafter, ardently though I loved
her, I sought not to commingle with her as a lover, but as a husband,
nor closed with her, until, as she herself by her true witness
may assure you, I had with apt words and with the ring made her
my lawful wife, asking her if she would have me to husband, whereto
she answered, yes. Wherein if she seem to have been tricked, 'tis
not I that am to blame, but she, for that she asked me not who I was.
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
081
]
“
This, then, is the great wrong, sin, crime, whereof for love and
friendship's sake Gisippus and I are guilty, that Sophronia is privily
become the wife of Titus Quintius: 'tis for this that you harass him
with your menaces and hostile machinations. [
082
]
What more would
you do, had he given her to a villein, to a caitiff, to a slave? Where
would you find fetters, dungeons, crosses adequate to your vengeance?
[
083
]
But enough of this at present: an event, which I did not
expect, has now happened; my father is dead; and I must needs
return to Rome; wherefore, being fain to take Sophronia with me,
I have discovered to you that which otherwise I had, perchance, still
kept close. Whereto, if you are wise, you will gladly reconcile
yourselves; for that, if I had been minded to play you false, or put
an affront upon you, I might have scornfully abandoned her to you;
but God forefend that such baseness be ever harboured in a Roman
breast. [
084
]
Sophronia, then, by the will of the Gods, by force of law,
and by my own love-taught astuteness, is mine. The which it would
seem that you, deeming yourselves, peradventure, wiser than the
Gods, or the rest of mankind, do foolishly set at nought, and that in
two ways alike most offensive to me; inasmuch as you both withhold
from me Sophronia, in whom right, as against me, you have
none, and also entreat as your enemy Gisippus, to whom you are
rightfully bounden. [
085
]
The folly whereof I purpose not at present
fully to expound to you, but in friendly sort to counsel you to abate
your wrath and abandon all your schemes of vengeance, and restore
Sophronia to me, that I may part from you on terms of amity and
alliance, and so abide: [
086
]
but of this rest assured, that whether this,
which is done, like you or not, if you are minded to contravene it, I
shall take Gisippus hence with me, and once arrived in Rome, shall
in your despite find means to recover her who is lawfully mine, and
pursuing you with unremitting enmity, will apprise you by experience
of the full measure and effect of a Roman's wrath.
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
087
]
Having so said, Titus started to his feet, his countenance distorted
by anger, and took Gisippus by the hand, and with manifest
contempt for all the rest, shaking his head at them and threatening
them, led him out of the temple. [
088
]
They that remained in the
temple, being partly persuaded by his arguments to accept his
alliance and friendship, partly terrified by his last words, resolved by
common consent that 'twas better to have the alliance of Titus, as
they had lost that of Gisippus, than to add to that loss the enmity of
Titus. [
089
]
Wherefore they followed Titus, and having come up with
him, told him that they were well pleased that Sophronia should be
his, and that they should prize his alliance and the friendship of dear
Gisippus; and having ratified this treaty of amity and alliance with
mutual cheer, they departed and sent Sophronia to Titus. Sophronia,
discreetly making a virtue of necessity, transferred forthwith to Titus
the love she had borne Gisippus, and being come with Titus to Rome,
was there received with no small honour. [
090
]
Gisippus tarried in Athens,
held in little account by well-nigh all the citizens, and being involved
in certain of their broils, was, not long afterwards, with all his
household,
banished the city, poor, nay, destitute, and condemned to perpetual
exile. [
091
]
Thus hard bested, and at length reduced to mendicancy,
he made his way, so as least discomfortably he might, to Rome,
being minded to see whether Titus would remember him: and
there, learning that Titus lived, and was much affected by all the
Romans, and having found out his house, he took his stand in front
of it, and watched until Titus came by; [
092
]
to whom, for shame of the
sorry trim that he was in, he ventured no word, but did his endeavour
that he might be seen of him, hoping that Titus might recognize
him, and call him by his name: but Titus passing on, Gisippus
deeming that he had seen and avoided him, and calling to mind that
which aforetime he had done for him, went away wroth and
desperate. [
093
]
And fasting and penniless, and--for 'twas now night--knowing
not whither he went, and yearning above all for death, he
wandered by chance to a spot, which, albeit 'twas within the city,
had much of the aspect of a wilderness, and espying a spacious
grotto, he took shelter there for the night; and worn out at last with
grief, on the bare ground, wretchedly clad as he was, he fell asleep.

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
094
]
Now two men that had that night gone out a thieving, having
committed the theft, came towards morning to the grotto, and there
quarrelled, and the stronger slew the other, and took himself off.
[
095
]
Aroused by the noise, Gisippus witnessed the murder, and deeming
that he had now the means of compassing, without suicide, the death
for which he so much longed, budged not a jot, but stayed there,
until the serjeants of the court, which had already got wind of the
affair, came on the scene, and laid violent hands upon him, and led
him away. [
096
]
Being examined, he confessed that he had slain the man,
and had then been unable to make his escape from the grotto.
Wherefore the praetor, Marcus Varro by name, sentenced him to
death by crucifixion, as was then the custom. [
097
]
But Titus, who
happened at that moment to come into the praetorium, being told
the crime for which he was condemned, and scanning the poor
wretch's face, presently recognized him for Gisippus, and marvelled
how he should come to be there, and in such a woeful plight. And
most ardently desiring to succour him, nor seeing other way to save
his life except to exonerate him by accusing himself, he straightway
stepped forward, and said with a loud voice: [
098
]
“
Marcus Varro, call
back the poor man on whom thou hast passed sentence, for he is
innocent. 'Tis enough that I have incurred the wrath of the Gods
by one deed of violence, to wit, the murder of him whom your
serjeants found dead this morning, without aggravating my offence
by the death of another innocent man.
”
[
099
]
Perplexed, and vexed that he
should have been heard by all in the praetorium, but unable honourably
to avoid compliance with that which the laws enjoined, Varro
had Gisippus brought back, and in presence of Titus said to him:
[
100
]
“
How camest thou to be so mad as, though no constraint was put
upon thee, to confess a deed thou never didst, thy life being at stake?
Thou saidst that 'twas thou by whom the man was slain last night,
and now comes this other, and says that 'twas not thou but he that
slew him.
”
[
101
]
Gisippus looked, and seeing Titus, wist well that, being
grateful for the service rendered by him in the past, Titus was now
minded to save his life at the cost of his own: wherefore, affected to
tears, he said:
“
Nay but, Varro, in very sooth I slew him, and 'tis
now too late, this tender solicitude of Titus for my deliverance.
”
[
102
]
But on his part:
“
Praetor,
”
quoth Titus,
“
thou seest this man is
a stranger, and was found unarmed beside the murdered man; thou
canst not doubt that he was fain of death for very wretchedness:
wherefore discharge him, and let punishment light on me who have
merited it.
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
103
]
Marvelling at the importunity of both, Varro readily surmised
that neither was guilty. And while he was casting about how he
might acquit them, lo, in came a young man, one Publius Ambustus,
a desperate character, and known to all the Romans for an arrant
thief. He it was that had verily committed the murder, [
104
]
and witting
both the men to be innocent of that of which each accused himself, so
sore at heart was he by reason of their innocence, that, overborne by
an exceeding great compassion, he presented himself before Varro,
and: [
105
]
“
Praetor,
”
quoth he,
“
'tis destiny draws me hither to loose
the knot of these men's contention; and some God within me leaves
me no peace of his whips and stings, until I discover my offence:
wherefore know that neither of these men is guilty of that of which
each accuses himself. [
106
]
'Tis verily I that slew the man this morning
about daybreak; and before I slew him, while I was sharing our
plunder with him, I espied this poor fellow asleep there. Nought
need I say to clear Titus: the general bruit of his illustrious renown
attests that he is not a man of such a sort. Discharge him, therefore,
and exact from me the penalty prescribed by the laws.
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
107
]
The affair had by this time come to the ears of Octavianus, who
caused all three to be brought before him, and demanded to know
the causes by which they had been severally moved to accuse themselves;
and, each having told his story, Octavianus released the two
by reason of their innocence, and the third for love of them. [
108
]
Titus
took Gisippus home, having first chidden him not a little for his
faint-heartedness and diffidence, and there, Sophronia receiving him as
a brother, did him marvellous cheer; [
109
]
and having comforted him a
while, and arrayed him in apparel befitting his worth and birth, he
first shared with him all his substance, and then gave him his sister,
a young damsel named Fulvia, to wife, and said to him:
“
Choose
now, Gisippus, whether thou wilt tarry here with me, or go back
to Achaia with all that I have given thee.
”

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
110
]
Partly perforce of his banishment from his city, partly for that
the sweet friendship of Titus was justly dear to him, Gisippus
consented to become a Roman. And so, long and happily they
lived together at Rome, Gisippus with his Fulvia, and Titus with
his Sophronia, in the same house, growing, if possible, greater friends
day by day.

[Voice:
filomena
]

[
111
]
Exceeding sacred then, is friendship, and worthy not only to be
had in veneration, but to be extolled with never-ending praise, as the
most dutiful mother of magnificence and seemliness, sister of gratitude
and charity, and foe to enmity and avarice; ever, without waiting
to be asked, ready to do as generously by another as she would be
done by herself. [
112
]
Rarely indeed is it to-day that twain are found, in
whom her most holy fruits are manifest; for which is most shamefully
answerable the covetousness of mankind, which, regarding only
private interest, has banished friendship beyond earth's farthest bourne,
there to abide in perpetual exile. [
113
]
How should love, or wealth, or
kinship, how should aught but friendship have so quickened the soul
of Gisippus that the tears and sighs of Titus should incline his heart
to cede to him the fair and gracious lady that was his betrothed and
his beloved? [
114
]
Laws, menaces, terror! How should these, how should
aught but friendship, have withheld Gisippus, in lonely places, in
hidden retreats, in his own bed, from enfolding (not perchance unsolicited
by her) the fair damsel within his youthful embrace?
[
115
]
Honours, rewards, gains! Would Gisippus for these, would he for
aught but friendship, have made nothing of the loss of kindred--his
own and Sophronia's--have made nothing of the injurious murmurs
of the populace, have made nothing of mocks and scorns, so only
he might content his friend? [
116
]
And on the other hand, for what
other cause than friendship had Titus, when he might decently have
feigned not to see, have striven with the utmost zeal to compass his
own death, and set himself upon the cross in Gisippus' stead?
[*** missing sentence: please see Italian [
117
]
***]
[
118
]
And
what but friendship had left no place for suspicion in the soul of
Titus, and filled it with a most fervent desire to give his sister to
Gisippus, albeit he saw him to be reduced to extreme penury
and destitution? [
119
]
But so it is that men covet hosts of acquaintance,
troops of kinsfolk, offspring in plenty; and the number of their
dependants increases with their wealth; and they reflect not that
there is none of these, be he who he may, but will be more apprehensive
of the least peril threatening himself than cumbered to avert
a great peril from his lord or kinsman, whereas between friends we
know 'tis quite contrariwise.